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SECTION 1

Test piece: Triumphant Rhapsody, Gilbert Vinter
Sunday 27 September
Commences following the Award Ceremony for Section 3
Adjudicators: David Horsfield and Roy Roe

What do we think?

Well, it hasn’t been a triumphant rhapsody of music making in the First Section for sure – some of the efforts have been awful to say the least. Have we really forgotten to how to play Vinter to this extent? It’s worrying.

Could we also see a band winning off the number 1 slot – a rarity these days, but Tongwynlais seem to have done enough to fend off the challengers. We are a kiss of death though…

Behind them we opt for Point of Ayr in second, with the final podium slot a battle between Wardle, Blackburn, Newtongrange and Barton. That’s who we liked anyway.

1. Tongwynlais
2. Point of Ayr
3. Wardle
4. Blackburn & Darwen
5. Newtongrange
6. Barton Town

Live comments:

Wakefield Metropolitan, Norman Law, Yorkshire, 16

Very nearly a corker to open, but those little errors just take off the shine. We get clear balances and a flannel free bass line too. There is a flow to the music despite the nasty clips and blips. The subtle wit comes out without the custard pie in the face. Stylish reading and plating just suffers from those little unforced errors, which are mounting up. Solo cornet – bravo! 99.9 per cent perfect. Quality shows now – great tempo and error free execution. Fine close.

Overall: A Vinteresque performance of merit, just tarnished by the high error count.

Star player: Solo cornet – a fine display.

Wardle Anderson Brass, Sean Conway, North West, 15

Bullseye! Spot on and played with purpose and commitment too. That was a real statement of intent. More of the same – subtle perhaps not – but it’s very obvious and very good. A very modern youthful Vinter this – nearly in need of a claming jab of Ritalin, but it really does keep you on the edge of your seat. Youthful enthusiasm is fearless and not subtle, but everything is going in and in the right place too. Unlucky solo cornet. Careful now, it tends to get boisterous and overblown. Fine recovery to the close.

Overall: A real modern twist on old Gilbert. Highly enjoyable and effective, but the lack of subtlety may cost.

Star player: Sop – Tremendous bit of playing from top to bottom.

City of Coventry Brass, Stephen Cooper, Midlands, 14

Like a Vin Diesel film – fast and furious and no subtlety to start. Dynamic contrast seems an abstract concept here. This is musical beige, Where is the contrast? Vinter in monotone – just a hint of warm colour would make this come to life. It takes to skill to make Vinter sound so bland – please take a risk MD. Sop does well amid the depression which engulfs this. Unlucky solo cornet. Moves along to a rather insipid finale, codicil and ending.

Overall: This was hard work – a performance of startling mediocrity.

Star player: Sop – a shining light of colour and warmth.

GT Group Peterlee, Stephen Malcolm, North of England, 13

Certainly no triumph in the opening but it recovers by fruity bass trom. Balance problems blight this one – basses are In camouflage mode when faced with semis. As Michael Winner would say ‘Control yourself bass trom – it’s not a concerto for you undoubted talents’. It spoils the balance of neatly drawn reading from the MD, which tries to stay faithful to the score. Bravo solo cornet – so nearly a cracker. Sensible tempo allows time and space but the balance problem just blur a well defined musical picture. Fruity end.

Overall: A good reading but a performance with a few too many error but some very stylish playing.

Star player: If it were only ‘Shooting Stars’ then it would have to be the bass trom who would be an ideal choice.

Kirkintilloch Kelvin, Charles Keenan, Scotland, 12

Splitfest opening, but it recovers and finds its dynamic and musical feet. MD takes a neutral stance and allows things to flow. Some things knit together like a spaghetti vest but the music still steeps through. There’s plenty to enjoy in the approach from the middle and it nearly all comes off. Good Scottish common sense is paying dividends – Solo cornet is safety conscious in cadenza. Needs a little more brio but it holds decent form right to the end.

Overall: A solid one this full of Scottish pragmatism. Needed a touch of sparkle but should more than hold its own.

Star player: Flugel – telling contributions from srtart to finish

Point of Ayr Colliery, John Hinckley, Wales, 11

Smack! Right between the eyes. A startlingly aggressive opening carries all before it Less Dear Lord – we pray. You can’t fault the execution – just as the MD wants we suspect, but that light wit and touch of tasteful lyricism is not on show. Very solid and committed playing this – and few mistakes. It’s laid on with a trowel in places but the end results makes you sit up and take note. The dynamics are of the on and off variety but it is effective too. Harsh to close if exciting.

Overall: Not subtle but certainly clever. Play the notes, not many mistakes, sit back and wait for the mention off stage.

Star player: Sop – gave it all in the cause.

Blackburn and Darwen, Nick Sheppard, North West, 10

A rare clean opening leads to pacey episodes that are stylish is a little insecure. Bass line is camouflage job bit it recovers. Has its moments – good and bad as we progress but there is stylish intent and this holds the interest. MD keeps things very neutral and plays to the score – it’s fine but just a little rubato won’t go a miss. Unlucky solo cornet. Blimey! It’s a turbo charged one this, but where to go in codicil presto? Once pace only to end – a pity. Good close though.

Overall: A good one that just needed a touch more musical elastic and that is rare today.

Star player: Euph – very well played Sir.

Barton Town, Richard Evans, North of England, 9

It’s a splashy start, but it’s light and majestic in character. Continues in the right vein too – stylish if not always bomb proof in execution. The dynamics are recognizable too. The musicality of Vinter is revealed – not without error and fragility it must be said, but the music wins out. Very nearly a cracker from the solo cornet – but the ensemble doesn’t falter after this. Compact dynamics and sense of brio right to the controlled ending.

Overall: This had Vinter in the right time and place but not pickled in aspic. Clips will cost but how much?

Star player: Euph – as steady as a rock throughout.

Newtongrange Silver, Nigel Boddice, MBE Scotland, 8

At last – a clean one that doesn’t hit you in the face like a boxing glove with a horseshoe in! It has style if not always clarity, but you hear the little subtleties of the score. The MD reads the score without hubris and loh and behold Vinter appears. It’s not always precise and clean but the music flows and so does the wit – great march fanfares. It gets a bit bogged down and untidy in places. Bravo solo cornet – a good one. A bit hit and miss after this but the style is there in spades right to the bold close.

Overall: A fine reading bravely portrayed. Didn’t quite come off in execution but this was a joy compared to others today.

Star player: Solo cornet – a real leaders effort.

Poole Borough, Phil Randell, West of England, 7

Hello – wrong way round. O-hell. The start has the devil’s curse. This improving to be such a problem today! Sensible approach from the MD allows time and space but the band sounds so nervous and fragile. It’s become one dimensional and dynamically monotone. Better stuff as we progress but we write too soon! A pity as the Vinter is on show despite the clips and blips. Bravo solo cornet – a real good cadenza. Finale – has purpose and style and isn’t overblown. Just gets messy and tired to close though.

Overall: Vinter for sure but with more chips than Harry Ramsden’s. A pity – the reading was a good one.

Star player: Solo cornet – One of the few to remain unscathed so far today.

Sherborne Town, Paul Cosh, West of England, 6

Poor start robs the opening of the sense of majesty. The pace is too hot in places to follow (bass work suffers lack of clarity) and lose light wit. It recovers with sensitive lyricism, although it isn’t always secure but then becomes bland and untuneful. It’s a struggle now and in desperate need of contrast. Cornet/cornets cadenza nearly comes off and finale is pacey if inaccurate. Side drum is in a different time zone to start. Recovers but it sounds tired in codicil and run to end.

Overall: Not really a Vinter to remember – not really triumphant today.

Star player: Flugel – well played today.

Norfolk Brass, David Stowell, London and Southern Counties, 5

The opening sounds are lent on like a heavy from a Humphrey Bogart film. It needs subtlety! It recovers poise and purpose and now sounds like Vinter – a light touch on dynamics and balance. Not everything comes off but the understanding of the requirements seeps through. The tonal quality is variable but the music is shaped well. Decent solo cornet cadenza leads into an overwrought finale – it’s edge of the seat stuff. Pretty good to close.

Overall: One that overcame the bonkers start to mould itself into a pretty decent account.

Star player: Solo cornet – a strong effort.

Hade Edge, Simon Wood, Yorkshire, 4

Opening is attacked with sledgehammer subtlety. The harshness continues – youthful enthusiasm is causing musical problems. The subtle wit is missing – it’s so harsh and nasty at times. – even percussion. The modern interpretation on this Vinter is so misplaced surely? Good effort solo cornet, but it leads into a messy free for all. Final presto ia a mad rush to the close. We have to question the MD’s intent on this – it seemed miles out.

Overall: The sound you hear is of Vinter spinning in his grave. So misplaced this.

Star player: Sop – Consistent and classy.

Phoenix West Midlands Brass, David Maplestone, Midlands, 3

Poor opening is marred by precision and intonation problems. Solo lines don’t really feel secure and the feel of the wit is heavy handed. There is no hidden secret to this MD. It gets better but the uneven execution marrs the lyrical approach. It’s very bitty this. The inconsistency means that it never quite feels at home. It’s as colourless as an artificial limb. Why so bland? Unlucky cornet but it recovers to a fine codicil ending.

Overall: Not a great one this. One that never felt comfortable.

Star player: Flugel – a touch of class amid the troubles.

Sandhurst Silver, Ian McElligott, London and Southern Counties, 2

Safe opening develops a touch scrappy. There is a witty lyricism but execution is never perfect. It hangs in there though. A little more dynamic contrast is really required. Well done soloists and we hear nice dissonance when required. Decent cornet cadenza leads to a wobbly old trom lead. This really takes time to settle and it remains loose. Question over side drum in a slightly disappointing end.

Overall: The light approach was admirable but the error count will prove costly.

Star player: Solo cornet – player with a stamp of authority.

Tongwynlais Temperance, Philip Harper, Wales, 1

This is the 3rd Welsh band drawn number 1 this weekend!

Not quite clean to start but progresses with real authority and style. Solo lines are so well shaped. Odd clip but so what. More quality on show all the way through. Cornet delivers a fire cadenza. Playful but driven, we hear real detail and there is a reserve in waiting. Great codicil ending – superb sounds – balanced and controlled to the end.

Overall: Quite a good marker this. It will be interesting to hear what the others to follow produce.

Star player: Euph – not a foot wrong and perfect for Vinter.